Source: Cheryl Polson, 913-962-6264, cpolson@k-state.edu

Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009

K-STATERS RECOGNIZED AS DISTINGUISHED GRADUATES OF THE U.S. ARMY COMMAND AND GENERAL STAFF COLLEGE

MANHATTAN -- Army Maj. David K. Anderson will be recognized today as a distinguished graduate of the United States Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kan.

Anderson, a December 2009 K-State graduate, will receive the Gen. Douglas MacArthur Military Leadership Writing Award at the Dec. 11 graduation ceremony at Fort Leavenworth. This award is designed to encourage and recognize scholarship and professional writing on the subject of military leadership. Candidates write an essay on military leadership that is judged by a faculty committee on originality, scholarship, style and overall value to the literature of the military profession.

"Maj. Anderson's scholarship exemplifies the quality of students who are attracted to and participate in the K-State graduate programs offered at Fort Leavenworth," said Cheryl Polson, director of K-State-Fort Leavenworth and associate dean of the Graduate School.

In addition, Maj. Andrew J. Watson, a spring 2009 K-State graduate, was recognized during the June 2009 Command and General Staff College graduation ceremony at Fort Leavenworth, Polson said. Watson received The Father Donald W. Smythe Military History Award, presented to the best student of military history in each Command and General Staff College class. Candidates are nominated by their history instructors and are selected on the basis of academic performance in both core and elective history courses.

"More than 1,200 students were eligible to be selected for this award and we are exceptionally proud to have had Maj. Watson chosen as the winner," Polson said.

Both Watson and Anderson completed their K-State master's degree work in adult education while attending Command and General Staff College, Polson said. In addition to the adult education master's degree program, Fort Leavenworth students and faculty can complete master's degrees on-post in security studies and history as well as doctoral programs in each of these three academic disciplines.

"During 2009 we have had over 60 Command and General Staff College students complete master's degrees and four doctorates from K-State. We expect that our program offerings and student participation at Fort
Leavenworth will continue to expand in the near future," Polson said.